CHRISTMAS

Christmas celebrated to honor the glory of the nativity if Jesus on 25th December is the most significant and spectacular of Christian festivals. No other celebration is so enriched with so many customs and ceremonies. There is an array of spectacles like Christmas Star, Christmas tree, the Crib, Christmas cake, Christmas presents and the Christmas Father. The last named is quite fascinating personage, who claims above all to be the very embodiment of the most vibrant and quintessence of the gayest of all the festivals. Children readily believe him, applaud his claims and succumb to his exuberant bonhomie. With children allowed to occupy the central stage, in the enchanted company of Christmas Father, Christmas takes on the look of a festival of children. The mood is set with the advent of the season by the twinkling of Christmas stars and there is no home or shop without the Christmas star, the beautiful pointer of the Babe of Bethlehem. The Christmas tree is a new feature in Kerala, perhaps less than sixty or seventy years old. The crib is a miniature production of the stable where Jesus was born. It developed from the old practice of giving dramatic expression to the events to and the surroundings of the birth of Christ. Carols and songs developed from earlier nativity plays have become one of the most cheerful spectacles of the festivities.

Priests hold mass in churches three time starting with the first at mid-night. Just before the mid-night mass, an image of the Child is brought by the priest, preceded by rows of children holding lighted candles that are placed in the crib. The hymn 'Gloria in exelcis Deo' is intoned amidst the explosion of crackers.

A sumptuous lunch with rare delicacies is a significant feature of the celebration. Meat forms part of the feast even in rural homes where meat is rarely eaten. Cake has also become common in the villages where women have learnt to make it.

In Kerala, X'mas retains its homeliness and expresses itself in the cultural forms of the country without losing what is native to itself.

KUTHIYOTTAM AND KETTUKAZHCHA In Chettikulangara Temple

Chettikulangara temple near kayamkulam is one of the famous Devi temples in Kerala. The Bharani Utsavam celebrated in Kumbham (February-March) in this temple is quite an event to the local people as well as to those residing in the neighbouring villages.

The highlight of the festival is Kuthiyottam and Kettukazhcha. It is doubtful whether there is any other temple in Kerala where these two rituals are performed so elaborately as in the Chettikulangara Bhagavathy temple.

Kuthiyottam is performed as an important offering to the deity. The man who makes the offering teaches young boys of between 8 and 14 years certain religious rites for seven days from Sivarathri day to Bharani asterism, during which these boys will be required to observe fast. Early in the morning on Bharani, after with silver wires, one end of which is tied around his neck, and an areca nut fixed on the tip of a knife held high over his head, is taken in procession to the temple with the accompaniment of beating of drums, music, ornamental umbrellas etc. All through the way to the temple, tender coconut water will be continually poured on his body. After the circumambulation, the boy stands at a position facing the Sreekovil (Sanctum Sanctorum) and begins to dance. This ceremony comes to a close with the presentation of prizes to the Gurus (teachers). This dance if performed in pairs is called Iratta Kuthiyottam.

On this day, just after mid-day, the residents of the locality bring huge decorated effigies of chariots, horse, Bhima, Panchali, Hanuman etc placed to wheeled platforms, and after having darshan the parties take up their respective position in the paddy field lying east of the temple. During the night, the image of Devi will be carried in procession to the effigies stationed in the paddy field. This is what is known as Kettukazhcha. On the next day these effigies will be taken back to their respective kavus (place of worship of different families.)

On the tenth day following the Bharani Utsavam there is another festival celebrated in the temple for thirteen days. On each day festival is conducted by the residents of each kavu.

CHITTUR KONGANPADA

Konganpada is a grand festival of historical significance celebrated in the Bhagavathy temple at Chittur ten kilometre from palakad town. A unique festival it is held every year on the first Monday after the dark lunar night in Kumbhom (February-March) to commemorate the victory of Nairs of Chittur over the militia of Konganadu (Coimbatore) led by the Chola King Rajadhi Raja. Goddess Bhagavathy is believed to have saved them from the attack of the Chola King.

The festival starts with 'Chilambu' on Sivarathri in Kumbhom which reminds Kongan's (chola king's) declaration of war and the frightened people worshipping Bhagavathy and beseaching her help. On the second day a flag is hoisted to indicate their preparedness for war. In the evening, they set our for war. This is called "Arippathattu". All the people assemble at the temple. After three pop-gun shots, the procession starts. Clad in silk, wearing gold ornaments and trinkets and with a shining sword in hand, the Velichappadu (oracle) goes in front while the people full of exultation follow him with torches held aloft. At midnight the procession returns to the temple with elephants and chariots. Next day is the day of Konganpada. On this day even the penniless will hold a grand feast. In the morning pop-guns will be fired 101 rounds. Of the festivities during the day kolam procession is very important. Children are made to wear kolam in response to certain vows made by their parents to Bhagavathy.

The procession starts from Vettakkorumakan Kavu, whose precincts are gorgeously decorated for the occasion. There are various entertainments like Ezhovela, Thattinmel Koothu, Sinki Nadakom etc. The kolam procession will reach the temple by dusk. This is followed by the holding of a function called Olavayana, when the messenger of Kongan reads the declaration of war. About 10 o' clock Kongan makes his appearance. The people will also start with torches in their hands making much din and bustle as in a war.

At Poovathunkavu a moch flight will be held by driving the horses hither and thither. This is followed by Pothottam in which some people rush forward with the head of a buffalo reminding one of the head of the dead buffaloes of the Chola king. The festival ends with the function called Pallu.